From the wailing harmonica stains and distorted guitar solo of “Leo Prowls” to the melancholy keyboards of “5:00 A.M. Shadows,” Chicago underground producer Meaty Ogre creates slow suspenseful instrumental pieces with a decidedly psychedelic side to them. His debut LP, Leo vs. Pisces, is an ode to astrology that is half instrumental and half lyrical, featuring the full roster of emcees from Mr. Ogre’s Galapagos4 label. The vocal tracks range from stunning (“Descending Son” featuring Denizen Kane) to passable (“Long Dirty Word” featuring Rift Napalm), but the beats are always exquisite. Meaty Ogre is equally as comfortable without any wordsmiths-hen left to his own devices, he makes beautiful music with a soulful edge.
Tali Lyric On My Lip
Getting super jiggy with it, Tali comes correct with lyrical prose on top of the rolling drum & bass beats that the Full Cycle crew is known for. The high-energy jump-up tracks on this album will grab you by the pants and make you twerk your monkey, whether or not you are a huge fan of breakbeat. Even the slower, chill tunes transport you to a place where the sun always shines and mimosas magically pour themselves down your throat. With a hint of R&B and vocal stylings unlike any of the current crop of overly aggressive MCs, Tali’s Lyric on my Lip doesn’t lie. These beats got on my lip, on my brain and even in my pants.
Wax Poetic Nublu Sessions
The production on Nublu Sessions is decent and it starts off with a stellar tune-“Tell Me” (featuring Nora Jones)–but Wax Poetic’s latest album comes off as a really bad attempt at contemporary world music. “Oriental Wind” is one of the worst offenders-it starts off with a pi pa (a traditional Chinese instrument) before segueing into a shehnai (a traditional Indian instrument) solo with a house beat that sounds like it came straight out of the box-more like the presets. On Nublu Sessions, Wax Poetic strives for mass appeal but just ends up with mediocrity.
60 Channels Covert Movements
Raw emotion is filtered through fine-tuned production on 60 Channels’ Covert Movements, which takes you through sensuous downtempo sounds before dropping you in more banging drum & bass terrain. The trip is guided by LA-based producer The Angel, who is assisted along the way by ragga MC Navigator, smoothed-out reggae man DJ Collage, and vocalists Angie Hart and Rain Phoenix. The journey ends with the best tune of the album, “Moving Shadows,” a jazzy, upbeat number that will leave you satisfied and fiending at the same time.
Sol Power Sol Uprising
Sol Power obviously ODed on copious amounts of The Coup, The Fugees and Digable Planets before they recorded Sol Uprising-their sound is derivative of the aforementioned crews without the same level of sophistication. That said, their organic, uplifting sound is a much-needed breath of fresh air considering the sorry state of hip-hop. Sol Uprising gets off to sluggish start, but the duo hits their stride with “Now Is The Time.” The mad-fresh “They Don’t Know” hints that by their sophomore effort, Sol Power could make serious impact. Until then, this is a welcome, though imperfect, antidote to bling-bling gangsta boogie.
Omar Best By Far
Rarely have Americans given British soul and funk a look. Yanks loved Loose Endz and Soul II Soul, and even dallied with Level 42 for a minute, but never really caught on to the mellifluous vibes of acid jazz songster Omar. A shame, since he can hold his own next to any American soul singer and is often far more adventurous musically. With Floetry and Craig David spearheading the current US love affair with Brit neo-soul, perhaps Omar will finally have his day with the re-release of Best By Far, his greatest hits compilation from 2000.
Candi Staton Candi Staton
With an illustrious career spanning over three decades-and spawning such classics as the edgy 1969 hit “I’d Rather Be An Old Man’s Sweetheart…” and “Young Hearts Run Free”-the superlative Ms. Staton has always maintained her position as one of music’s legendary soulstresses. Now a gospel singer, she’s been enjoying a revival of late. This collection shuns her later, more chart-friendly work for her Southern-fried soul roots, and each song is a veritable classic in its own right. Her version of Elvis’s “In the Ghetto” will make the hair on your neck stand on end. Genius.
Cappo Grand Finale
Cappo is here with his most recent excursion. “Grand Finale” is pretty decent, but the best is the b-side’s crazy funked-up version of previous single “Learn to Be Strong” courtesy of Quantic Soul Orchestra. Quantic’s Will Holland dispenses with the original’s Ben E King vocal sample and replaces it with QSO’s own vocalist Alice Russell. It has an upper tempo feel that’s stoopid funky, and a slammin’ drum break at the end. Get two copies, baby.
Likwit Junkies Keep Doin’ It
Brand new collabo comin’ from Likwit crew’s Defari and Dilated Peoples’ DJ Babu. Babs surpasses himself this time with two ridiculously funky beats. Both this and the flip’s “Scans” are great, but the a-side takes it for me with some crazy ’60s soul sample with little vocal bits going on behind Defari’s liquid flow. FFFFRRRRREEESHHHHHHH!!
Static Charge (All Stars Vocal Mix)
To be honest with you, I slept on this record. I was sent a test-press three months ago but didn’t pay much attention to it until I heard the All Stars mix recently. It features the cream of UKG MCs, including 1Xtra’s Heartless, B-Live, God’s Gift, Gemma Fox and many more. With recognition throughout the scene plus airplay on 1Xtra’s play list, this is bound to be a massive hit.
